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Judge rebuffs AG Harris on donor disclosures

California Attorney General Kamala Harris lost a high-profile lawsuit over her attempt to obtain donor records from an organization in the orbit of the Koch brothers. Judging First Amendment protections to exceed what Harris had characterized as the confines of

CAGOP extends term limits for chairman

Matt Fleming May 2, 2016

Burlingame – California Republican Party Chairman Jim Brulte, who was set to be termed out in 2017, was granted eligibility for up to two more terms by the party on Sunday. Brulte was elected in 2013, when the party was near

Carly Fiorina likens presidential politics to football

Matt Fleming May 1, 2016

Burlingame – Carly Fiorina broke out a football metaphor Saturday night to illustrate her ticket’s chances to win the the party’s nomination for president. Earlier this week, Texas Senator Ted Cruz announced the former Hewlett-Packard CEO as his prospective running mate,

John Kasich’s presidential primary challenges

Matt Fleming April 30, 2016

On paper, John Kasich is the presidential candidate Republicans have been waiting on for years. The Ohio governor represents an important swing state. As a member of Congress, he chaired the House Budget Committee, where he was considered the architect

@realdonaldtrump hits the Bay Area

Matt Fleming April 29, 2016

Any questions about which Donald Trump would show up to the California Republican Party Convention in Burlingame on Friday were dispelled immediately. Would it be the same insult-slinging, filterless personality Americans have grown accustomed to seeing on T.V., who protesters waited for

Assembly Republicans: Hold steady in 2016 to build for 2017

Matt Fleming April 29, 2016

Facing a presidential election that’s guaranteed to overshadow them and numbering so few that passing even a simple resolution requires an act of God, Assembly Republicans are hoping to simply hold their 28 seats in 2016 while building the foundation

Obama draws CA ire on Armenian genocide

James Poulos April 29, 2016

In an attempted act of political finesse, president Obama declined to call the mass slaughter of Armenians, carried out by the Turks 100 years ago, a genocide. “Armenian-American leaders have urged Mr. Obama each year to keep a pledge he

Sanders pins delegate hopes on CA

James Poulos April 28, 2016

Hoping to end Bernie Sanders’ surprisingly effective insurgent campaign, Hillary Clinton has shifted her own to California, on the heels of a strong Tuesday performance making her a virtual lock for the Democrats’ nomination for president. Clinton edges Sanders by six points

Vacancies, dysfunction cause legislator-pay commission to cancel meeting

Matt Fleming April 27, 2016

Last month, CalWatchdog reported that the commission on state lawmaker pay was plagued by vacancies. This month, the California Citizens Compensation Commission had to cancel its annual meeting scheduled for Wednesday due to lack of quorum. The seven members of the

Senate Republican policy priorities aim to make Golden State more affordable

Matt Fleming April 27, 2016

Senate Republicans packaged their best policy proposals on Tuesday, a series of bills aimed at helping veterans, seniors, homeowners and renters as well as parents and students. Jean Fuller, the Senate Republican leader, pointed to California’s high rents, high poverty rate and